Door Industry Journal - Summer 2013

Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 50 THE door industry journal summer 2013 doorset feature Whilst historically, other materials such as timber or glass may have been chosen over steel from a visual perspective, with such a wide range of finishes available for steel doors today, this is no longer the case. Not only do steel doors offer unrivalled fire protection but can form an essential part of any design project. David Hindle of Ingersoll Rand explains why the flexibility of steel makes it such a strong proposition for every design project. There’s no doubt that the market place previously misunderstood steel, with many architects and designers viewing steel doors as a one dimensional product and overlooking them in favour of timber or glass. Yet the fact is, steel doorsets not only offer durability and essential fire protection, but a huge range of diverse finishes, making them extremely flexible and ideal for a whole range of applications. Innovators in architecture and construction such as Foster and Partners and Canary Wharf Construction, embraced the fit for purpose and cost effective aspects of steel and the sleek modern look it gave, some 25 years ago. Latterly, architects such as Ian Ritchie and Roger Stirk Harbour, along with some forward thinking clients, took this mantle on and continued to push forward the use of visually- enhanced steel doors throughout a project, not just back-of-house or plant areas. In fact, London Underground realised the essential role that steel doors could play over 30 years ago. They quickly established that they needed doors to ‘work’ but also look good over the life of the product. Steel proved to be fit for purpose, helping to protect the billion passengers a year which now use and depend upon the service, but still offering the flexibility for tailored or unusual design to complement or enhance the aspect of individual stations. That said, it could be argued that many architects and designers remain largely unaware of the options available around steel door finishes and therefore the sheer volume of different design styles and environments that can be applied to steel doorsets. The reality is that the options are virtually limitless. On a very basic level Polyester Powder Coating (PPC) will always be a strong option, as it gives a good quality finish at a cost-effective price in an extensive range of colours that are completely fit for purpose. For more hardwearing finishes, there are options to add hardening lacquers to PPCs or alternative hybrid powder finishes such as EPPCs (Epoxy Polyester Powder Coats). Where a little more flair is desired, PPCs with design aspects such as Interpon’s Futura metallic ranges, or PVF2 for instance can be utilised. One paint finish, within Interpon’s Elements range gives the impression that it’s warm to the touch. So, far from the perception that steel has to be hard and cold, this option shows that finishes can change the overall look and feel completely. Additionally, bespoke powder coat finishes can also be applied, matching any corporate colour or existing finish. The key advantage of these paint finishes is that they are performance tested against multiple criteria, replicating arduous lifelong performance. Testing includes resistance to salt wash, chemicals and phosphates, UV light, rain, and so forth. In terms of more challenging environments, there are additional primers which can be used, for example the Interpon AP120 system. This zinc-rich primer gives the door a marine grade barrier, prolonging the door’s life STEELING THE LIMELIGHT WITH SUPERIOR DOOR FINISHES